WAVERLY, Iowa – Men's basketball (12-8, 4-7 A-R-C) was unable to slow down Loras' (15-5, 9-2 A-R-C) high-powered offense today as the Duhawks defeated the Knights 111-90 inside of Levick Arena on Saturday, Jan. 31.
Austin Bienemann led the Knights with a career-high 28 points and
Ethan Yungtum finished with a 21 point and 10 rebound double double.
Game Summary
- First Half
- Bienemann got the scoring started with an early layup that led to scoring six of Wartburg's first eight points as the Knights led 8-4 after just over three minutes of play
- Despite a made three pointer with the foul for Ethan Yungtum, Loras took a 14-11 lead with 15:11 remaining in the first half after three-straight made three pointers from Loras' Noalan Berendes (including one four-point play)
- Bienemann scored the next seven points for the Knights along with a score from Mason Matson, but Loras continued to score from outside, the paint and the free throw line to hold on to a 27-20 lead with just over 11 minutes left in the half
- Drake Wemark and Bienemann each scored inside the paint for the Knights but Loras continued to score the ball efficiently to stay in front 37-24 with 8:37 left in the first half
- Wartburg chipped away at the Loras lead over the next three and a half minutes with a 14-8 run led by six points from Cael Schramm and four points from Yungtum to cut the deficit to 45-38
- Both Luke Ladwig and Bienemann connected on three point attempts, but Loras outscored Wartburg 13-8 to regain a 58-46 lead with 1:47 left in the half
- Bienemann and Schramm each converted three-point plays to close the half for the Knights, but Wartburg trailed 61-52 at the break
- Second Half
- The Knights started the second half with a three-point play from Wemark, three free throws from Yungtum and then a steal leading to a two-handed flush from Bienemann in the fastbreak to bring the Knights back within six points as Loras led 66-60 after three minutes of play
- A Yungtum three pointer brought the Knights within one possession, but Loras answered with a 9-2 run to go back ahead by 10 points (75-65) with just over 14 minutes left to play
- Bienemann and Yungtum both made another three pointer each over the next two minutes, but Loras had an answer for every Wartburg make as the Duhawks continued to lead 83-73
- Gabe Trujillo, Ladwig and Schramm each scored for the Knights over the next four minutes of play but it was still Loras in front 88-78 with 8:56 remaining
- The Duhawks continued to score at will offensively as a 12-5 run pushed the Loras lead to 100-83 with under six minutes left to play
- Wartburg closed the game with scores from Dominic Braet, Drew Britson, Giovanni St Onge and Yungtum but Loras came away with a 111-90 win over the Knights
Top Performers
- Austin Bienemann
- 28 points – 11/17 FG, 3/7 3P, 3/4 FT
- Five rebounds
- Three assists
- One steal
- One block
- Ethan Yungtum
- 21 points – 6/8 FG, 4/4 3P, 5/8 FT
- 10 rebounds
- One assist
- Cael Schramm
- 14 points
- Three rebounds
- Two blocks
- One assist
- Drake Wemark
- Seven points
- Six assists
- One steal
Notes/Streaks
- Loras has now swept the regular season series this season
- Wartburg leads the all-time series 52-42
- Loras has won eight of the last 10 matchups
- Bienemann set a new career-high in scoring with 28 points
- Previous single-game high was 27 points earlier this season vs Principia
- Wartburg honored six graduating student athletes prior to today's game for senior day:
- 10 different Knights scored in today's contest
- Loras' 18 made three pointers is the most against Wartburg in a single game in program history
- Nolan Berendes made 10/19 from downtown in route to a game-high 44 points (most by an A-R-C player this season)
- Wartburg had a 44-32 advantage in points in the paint
- Team shooting:
- Wartburg – 51.6% FG, 38.1%, 3P, 64.3% FT
- Loras – 56.3% FG, 50% 3P, 80.8% FT
- Loras had a 42-21 advantage in points off the bench today
Next Time Out
The Knights are back in action on Wednesday, Feb. 4 at home against the University of Dubuque beginning at 7:30 p.m.
